4 beer festivals to check out this summer

Now that summer's here and the temperatures are getting up, us bigger guys are feeling the heat. So what better way to cool down than to sit in the shade and drink some beers? You might just want to relax on the veranda with a couple of cold ones from the fridge, but if you feel like making a day of it why not check out one of the beer festivals that are happening around the country this summer.

Ballarat Beer Festival, 21 January

Wander down to the City Oval next month to try over two hundred craft beers. The festival promises entertainment for adults and children, just in case you decide to drag the kids along. While they haven't announced all the acts yet there'll be live music throughout the day and food trucks to keep you fuelled from one beer stall to the next. Tickets are $49, or for $69 you get entry and $20 worth of beer tokens.

This festival at Old Broadwater Farm has a distinctly local flavour, only featuring beers from the South West region of Western Australia. Three music stages mean you're taken care of if you want to sweat it out to some DJs, or just sit back and be soothed by something quieter. Tickets are just $30 for the day.

Melbourne Beerfest, 4-5 March

St. Kilda's Catani Gardens are being taken over for a diverse weekend of craft beer, with more than 30 stall holders already confirmed. If craft beer isn't your thing there'll be cider and plenty of food to enjoy as well, with live music and comedy on stage to keep you entertained. Tickets are $20 for a day, or $30 for the whole weekend.

A combination of beer drinking, competitive barbecuing and live music, this NSW event is pretty much the pinnacle of the big man's summer. And in case you're inspired to try any of it at home, there will be brewing and barbecue masterclasses. Tickets range from $10 to $150.

You don't have to be an expert on brewing to enjoy a beer fest - even if you can't tell a stout from a porter, you can still get involved. Try everything, get amongst it and let out that big personality of yours.

These are just a few of the big events coming up, but there are plenty of smaller ones that are worth checking out too. Have a look at what's coming up in your town over summer - or failing that, the bottle shop down the road's bound to have a few interesting brews in the fridge.

However you choose to keep cool and quenched this summer, do it in style with some shorts and polos from our wide range of large men's clothing. We can't get you a drink, but we can at least make you look good while you get it yourself.